Iultin, administrative territorial entity of Russia
Iultin is an abandoned settlement in Russia's far eastern region, built as a mining town to support tin and tungsten extraction. The buildings stand empty and deteriorating, with quiet streets gradually being reclaimed by the surrounding tundra landscape.
Settlement of Iultin began after World War II when a road was constructed from the coastal port of Egvekinot to support mining operations. The settlement received its name in 1953 and thrived during the Soviet era, until mining operations became unprofitable during the 1990s and the town was officially closed in 1995.
The name Iultin likely comes from a local language meaning "long icicle" or "long feathers," possibly inspired by the quartz veins visible on nearby mountain slopes. The abandoned streets and crumbling buildings still reflect how people once organized their daily lives in this remote Soviet mining settlement.
Access to Iultin is difficult since the area is remote and typically reachable only by small aircraft or rough roads. Visitors should prepare for cold and harsh conditions, especially during winter months with long dark days and challenging terrain.
Some residents refused to leave and continued living in the abandoned town for years afterward, according to visitor reports. These stubborn inhabitants survived by fishing and foraging while selling homemade spirits to visiting researchers.
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